Today we had a very interesting discussion about Tolkien's shire and what comments it makes on our society now. It was really interesting to make links between fantasy and reality and why Tolkien chose fantasy and what we can draw from the books being fantasy.
Interestingly I think fantasy is a really great way for the reader or watcher to realise a situation that may be less obvious yet one we experience. The fantasy shire land created and its contrasts to the industrial land is really useful for taking us out of our own bubble. Often we are trapped in our own worlds and there is quite a strong divide between people living in the country and those living in the city. Often both groups find it hard to relate to one and other. Yet showing the contrasts through the blown up fantasy land that Tolkien writes in really sends the message that despite our different classes and culture we are all just people part of one greater collective. In the fellow ship of the ring there are many different groups of thing like hobbits and goblins yet they are all part of the fellow ship , commenting that despite our differences we are all more similar than we think. It really amazes me how much I personally draw about the world I live in through something so out of the world I know , showing the power of fantasy and imagination. Tolkien makes us realise reality through fantasy.
We also talked about Tolkien's environment of Oxford that he lived in. Oxford has an almost mystical lay out with many side alleys. It's really interesting to think of Oxford a very similar place to the Shire. Oxford is also associated with academia therefor I can almost imagine Tolkien thinking very deeply and being immersed in the world of literature and deep thought when writing. Yet Oxford is not only a very academic place but also I think something often overlooked is the value of art. Art is not only taught extremely well in Oxford but also the articheture and landscape is full of art. I think the combination of academia in literature and art really help understand the craft of the book as not only is it full of literary genius but it also is detailed with emense creativity like the book has been painted.
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